Roscommon County, Michigan

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Roscommon County (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,459.<ref name=QF>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Roscommon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was founded in 1840 and organized in 1875.<ref name=Clarke/> The county is home to Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan.

History

A detail from A New Map of Michigan with its Canals, Roads & Distances (1842) by Henry Schenck Tanner, showing Roscommon County as "Mickenauk" (a misspelling of Mikenauk, the county's name from 1840 to 1843.<ref name=Newberry/>) Several nearby counties are also shown with names that would later be changed.

Template:See also The county was formed by the Michigan Legislature in 1840 as Mikenauk County,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> (from Ojibwe mikinaak meaning turtle) then renamed Roscommon County in 1843. It was administered by Michilimackinac (Mackinac), Cheboygan, and Midland counties, in succession, prior to the organization of county government in 1875.<ref name=Newberry>Template:Cite web</ref> Roscommon County was named after County Roscommon, Ireland.<ref name=Clarke/><ref>Michigan History, Arts and Libraries on sources of County names.</ref>

There are three official Michigan historical markers in the county:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (10%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Roscommon County is considered to be part of Northern Michigan. Part of Michigan's Au Sable State Forest falls within the county. The US Forest Service's Roscoe Fire Management Unit includes Ogemaw and Roscommon Counties.

Geographic features

During prehistoric times, glacial action helped shape the Michigan-area terrain. A large portion of the area is the Grayling outwash plain, which includes sandy ice-disintegration ridges; jack pine barrens, white pine-red pine forest, and northern hardwood forest. Large lakes were created by glacial action.<ref>Template:Cite web Michigan regional geology</ref>

Prominent geographic features include:

Major highways

Airports

Adjacent counties

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Communities

U.S. Census data map showing local municipal boundaries within Roscommon County

Village

Civil townships

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Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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At the 2000 United States census,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> there were 25,469 people, 11,250 households, and 7,616 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 23,109 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. By the 2020 census, the county's population was 23,459.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 97.99% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.4% were of German, 12.7% English, 9.9% Irish, 9.2% Polish, 9.2% American and 6.7% French ancestry. 97.2% spoke English as their first language. Those citing "American" ancestry in Roscommon County are of overwhelmingly English extraction, however most English Americans identify simply as having American ancestry because their roots have been in North America for so long, in some cases since the 1600s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America By Dominic J. Pulera.</ref><ref>Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.</ref><ref>Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44-6.</ref><ref>Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82-86.</ref>

Attractions and events

The community is centered in the area of two very large lakes, in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's warblers, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include:

Roscommon County, Michigan, hosts an event known as Christmas in the Village. This event is held on the first Saturday in December annually. Christmas in the Village began in 1994 when the old Roscommon Middle School was purchased for a dollar and transformed into the community building, called the CRAF Center. The committee for Christmas in the Village was composed of volunteers. Each year features burn barrels, an annual tree lighting, an electric light parade, and more. As time passes, new activities are added annually. Typically, you can find a craft show in the gym of the CRAFT Center and a petting zoo. Vendors set up shops in the CRAF center gym to sell plenty of goods. There is a wide variety, from fudges to quilts. The town gathers to celebrate the holidays together. Santa arrives on the train. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

Roscommon County voters tend to vote Republican; they have selected the Republican Party nominee in 75% of national elections (27 of 36). Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and vital records, administers public health regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The county board of commissioners controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

Elected officials

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(information as of January 2021)

See also

References

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